The Catholic Church is one step closer to canonising a surfing saint. Pope Francis recognised the heroic virtue of Brazil’s “Surfer Angel”, Guido Schäffer, in a decree issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on May 20. Schäffer was a seminarian, a doctor, and a surfer who drowned while surfing in 2009 off Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Congregation for the Causes of Saints’
Sacked Vatican cardinal Becciu seeking €10m damages
Monday, November 23rd, 2020
Cardinal Angelo Becciu is seeking €10m (NZ$17m) damages against an Italian media outlet saying the publication ruined his chances of becoming pope. The Vatican cardinal was sacked by Pope Francis in September, amid a corruption investigation. He is suing Italian news magazine L’Espresso, claiming that by ruining his reputation his chance of becoming pope was Read more
Pope makes two major appointments
Monday, October 19th, 2020Pope Francis has made two major appointments at the Curia. He selected Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa to be a member of the Council of Cardinals. Bishop Marcello Semararo of Albano was appointed the new prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Cardinal Besungu takes the place of his predecessor in the Read more
Jewish group questions WWII Polish cardinal’s beatification
Monday, May 28th, 2018
A Jewish group is questioning moves to beatify the wartime head of Poland’s Catholic Church. The American Jewish Congress is reacting to the Pope’s signature last Monday on a decree recognising the “heroic virtues” of Cardinal August Hlond (1881-1948). Hlond was the highest ranking church official in Poland from 1926 to 1948. He is credited Read more
The heroic virtues of 12 Servants of God confirmed
Thursday, May 24th, 2018Pope Francis has confirmed the heroic virtues of 12 Servants of God. His decree has promulgated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Those whose heroic virtues the Pope recognized include American-born Servant of God Norbert McAuliffe (born: John). McAuliffe was a professed religious of the Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Read more
New saints including Blessed Pope Paul VI to be canonised
Thursday, March 8th, 2018
Blessed Pope Paul VI will be canonised a saint in October. The ceremony will take place at the end of the Synod of Bishops on youth and discernment, Cardinal Pietro Parolin says. The cardinals and bishops who are members of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes have voted to recognise a miracle where Blessed Paul healed Read more
Pope announces new beatification category
Thursday, July 13th, 2017
Pope Francis sent out an Apostolic Letter on Tuesday creating a new beatification category for a Servant of God to be declared Blessed. This category is distinct from martyrdom through “oblatio vitae, or “the free offering of their life” for love of God and neighbour. The letter’s title, Maiorem hac dilectionem, comes from Our Lord’s Read more
New financial rules for those putting causes of saints
Friday, March 11th, 2016
Pope Francis has imposed new rules governing the establishment and management of funds for the advancement of investigations into the lives of people proposed for sainthood. The new financial accountability regulations came after reports of gross abuses on the use of donations from the faithful. At least two books by Italian journalists revealed that the Read more
John Paul II closer to declaration of sainthood
Thursday, June 20th, 2013Theologians at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints have approved a second miracle granted through the intercession of Blessed John Paul II, moving him closer to being declared a saint. Although the process is supposed to be secret at this point, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that the proclamation of sainthood “needs only the Read more